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SB 59 Kentucky Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and resources.

Summary
Amend KRS 65.013 to define terms; expand the prohibition on using tax dollars to advocate for or against a public question on the ballot to prohibit using any resources, and to explicitly apply prohibition to school districts, regional educational cooperatives, and recalls on a ballot; establish a criminal penalty and a prohibition against holding a position of public trust or profit for 10 years for a person found guilty of violating the prohibition; create a cause of action for a citizen aggrieved by a violation of the prohibition; establish a statute of limitations to commence suit and the appropriate venue; provide when the suit accrues; specify damages recoverable per violation; allow for class action; include a prohibition against holding a position of public trust or profit for 10 years for a person held civilly liable; amend KRS 48.025 and 132.017 to conform.
Issues: ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesProhibits tax dollars from being used for ballot advocacy, expands restrictions to school districts, and adds penalties - restricting government spending on specific activities.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts school districts from using tax funds for ballot advocacy, limiting educational advocacy activities per bill's prohibition on resources.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 9, 2026 Signed Apr 14, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Current/Final · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to shift its primary focus from KRS 65.013 to KRS 48.025 and KRS 132.017, expanding the scope to explicitly include school districts and regional educational cooperatives in prohibitions against using tax dollars for ballot advocacy. The changes also refined the definitions of 'resources' to clarify digital assets and human resources while adding specific exemptions for educational television and member advocacy associations.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include school districts and regional educational cooperative organizations under the prohibition against using tax dollars for ballot advocacy, and it added specific exemptions for educational television and member advocacy associations.
DEFINITION

The definition of 'Local' was updated to explicitly include 'school district' and 'regional educational cooperative organization,' broadening the entities subject to the bill's restrictions.

The definition of 'Resources' was revised to clarify that digital resources include email accounts and to remove 'volunteers' from the list of human resources covered under state employment.

EXEMPTIONS

New exemptions were added allowing educational television to cover ballot questions if equal time is given to both sides, and allowing associations to advocate for ballot initiatives that directly apply to their members if no tax funds are used.

REQUIREMENT

The bill was amended to remove the prohibition on public employees advocating on personal time using non-governmental resources, clarifying that such activity is permitted.

TECHNICAL

The statutory references governing the bill were changed from KRS 65.013 to KRS 48.025 and KRS 132.017, altering the legal framework under which the provisions operate.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 5, 2026

How they voted

32–11
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 44
Mar 5, 2026
D Democratic6
6 Nay
100% Nay
R Republican38
32 Yea 5 Nay 1
84% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
39
Key actions
14
Committee
11
Amendments
2
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed 80-19
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Vetoed
posted for consideration of Governor's veto
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Committee
to Rules (H)
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed 31-7
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Vetoed
veto overridden
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Vetoed
posted for passage for consideration of Governor's veto
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Committee
to Rules (S)
upper
Apr 7, 2026
Vetoed
Vetoed
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed 29-8
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (2)
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (2)
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Committee
to Rules (S)
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 75-16 with Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (2)
upper
Mar 17, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (2) filed to Committee Substitute
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Committee
to State Government (H)
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Mar 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 28-9 with Committee Substitute (1)
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Committee
to Appropriations & Revenue (S)
upper
Jan 9, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Jan 9, 2026
Introduced
introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.